Credit Cards With No Annual Fee: The Best No Fee Credit Cards

Credit cards with no annual fees are, for many people, the most alluring options. An annual fee can be worthwhile if you spend enough to make up for it, but if you’re not sure you can make that investment, free credit cards are the way to go. Having no annual fees can also help your credit score: when you’re done with the card, you can leave the account open, thus boosting your score while avoiding pesky charges.

Which no fee card is best for me?

Like any credit card category, there exists no single fee-free card for everyone. Which you choose is contingent on your spending habits, financial goals and debts. Here’s a quick guide to choosing a card category:

If you want high rewards and cold, hard cash back: The Chase Freedom is one of our most popular credit cards overall, earning 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories and paying out a $100 cash back signup bonus.

If you want cash rewards without the hassle: The Capital One Cash earns a whopping 1.5% cash back, has a 0% introductory APR period on purchases and transfers, and has no foreign transaction fee.

If you want to get rid of debt: The Citi Platinum Select gives you a whole 18 months to pay off transfers and purchases interest-free.

If you want to earn miles and avoid foreign transaction fees: The versatile Capital One VentureOne gives 1.5 No Hassle Miles to the dollar, which can be used to offset any travel expense you incur.

Know which one you need? Scroll down for details! Need more options? Check out our full list of no annual fee credit cards.

Free cash back rewards: Chase Freedom

In our estimation, the Chase Freedom offers the best fee-free rewards on the market. For one, your rewards come in the form of cash, which equates to versatility, flexibility and simple, honest earning. The Freedom boasts a 5% cash back rate in select categories that rotate quarterly. Spending categories include things like gas, groceries and department store purchases. The accelerated rewards do come with caps, but they tend to be pretty high ($1,500 in spending per quarter). All purchases outside the specified categories earn an unlimited 1% cash back. The signing bonus is an easy $100 in cash when you spend just $500 in the first 3 months. Perhaps best of all, you get a 0% intro APR period for 12 months on both purchases and transfers, so you can rack up rewards on a big buy and pay it off over time interest-free.

Easy and versatile rewards: Capital One Cash

The Capital One Cash offers a flat 1.5% cash back rewards rate, which pretty much can’t be beat with no-fee cards. It also has a 12-month introductory APR period for transfers and purchases, and has no foreign transaction fee. The card has a signup bonus of $100 cash back for new accounts.. If you aren’t a fan of the Chase Freedom’s rotating bonus category thing, the Cash offers simple, no-hassle rewards.

 Free low-APR for paying off balances: Citi Platinum Select

If you need a card for paying down debt, get the Citi Platinum Select. Seriously. You won’t find a card better suited for the job. It’s simple and fair with bragging rights to the longest introductory APR we’ve come across. For a full 18 months, you’ll pay 0% interest on purchases and transfers. Dumping your balance onto the Platinum means you’ll stop accumulating interest for a year and a half. Keep in mind, you will have to pay the balance transfer fee, but it’s only 3% (compare to the standard 5%). The Platinum is devoid of bonuses and rewards, but you should take care of debt before going after the extras.

Free travel rewards: Capital One VentureOne

At a flat, unlimited 1.25% rewards rate, the Capital One VentureOne is one of the few worthwhile miles credit cards without an annual fee. Your points come in the form of No Hassle Miles, which can be redeemed for travel at a penny apiece. Points can be used on any flight at any airline or at any hotel regardless of category or brand. You don’t have to worry about blackout dates, and the miles will never expire for the duration of your account. The sign-up bonus is 10,000 miles (equal to $100 in travel) and is handed over once you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months. If you’re traveling internationally, you’re in luck. Like all Capital One cards, the VentureOne charges no foreign transaction fee, saving you 3% on purchases abroad. While serious travelers would be advised to choose something with an annual fee for better rewards, the VentureOne is, undoubtedly, the king of free travel.